Why preventive care is important

Remember the old saying that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? This can be especially true when it comes to preventive health care. Maintaining or improving your health is important - and a focus on regular preventive care, along with following the advice of your doctor, can help you stay healthy.

Marijuana chemical reduces multiple sclerosis pain

Treatment with Marinol, a synthetic version of cannabinoid chemicals found in marijuana, can reduce the pain often experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests.

The findings, which appear in the British Medical Journal, are based on a study of 24 MS patients with pain who were treated with Marinol or inactive “placebo” for 3-week periods.

Dr. Flemming W. Bach and colleagues, from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, found that Marinol was significantly better than placebo at lowering pain intensity and increasing pain relief.

In terms of quality of life, Marinol appeared to offer a benefit over placebo in reducing bodily pain and improving mental health. No change in functional ability was seen with Marinol or placebo.

Marinol was more likely than placebo to produce side effects, particularly during the first week of treatment, the authors note. The most common side effects included dizziness, headache, and tiredness.

“The pain reduction seen in this study is comparable to the effect of other drugs” used in the treatment of related pain conditions, the authors state. Marinol “should be available for patients whose central pain is not sufficiently treated with alternative drugs such as anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or opioids,” they add.

It's easy to make a financial decision based on what you need right now, but making an informed choice will benefit you in the long run. Meet a former Red Sox pitcher who picked security over an uncertain future